*UPDATE* NIKKI SIXX SLAMS GENE SIMMONS’ COMMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION, AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK BLOCKS PLAYING KISS

According to blabbermouth.net, Sixx said that people who are suffering from depression should not “listen to people who don’t know what they’re talking about.”

During last night’s episode of his Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx radio show, Sixx said, “It’s pretty moronic [of Gene to say what he said], because he thinks everybody listens to him, that he is the god of thunder and he will tell you he is the greatest man on earth. And, to be honest with you, I like Gene. But in this situation, I don’t like Gene. I don’t like Gene’s words, because … there is a 20-year-old kid out there who is a KISS fan and reads this and goes, ‘You know what? He’s right. I should just kill myself.’ If I had killed myself, my four beautiful children would not be here today. I wanted to talk about what I’ve done with my recovery and my depression and something I think Gene should use as a model.

I got off the drugs and alcohol and it was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I didn’t think I could ever be off the heroin, to be honest with you. I got off the heroin and I couldn’t leave my house. I didn’t have any social skills, I didn’t know how to interact with people. I pretty much started to go deeper and deeper and deeper into a depression. So I went to a therapist. And it was the first time I had ever been to a therapist. And I said, ‘I just feel hopeless.’ Now, if I went to see Gene Simmons, he would have said, ‘Well, you know, Nikki, if you’re depressed, you should just kill yourself.’ But this therapist said, ‘Hey, there are ways out.’ And he gave me an experimental drug at the time called Prozac, and it got me on the right path. And then I got off of it. And I got out of my depression. And I then went to have these four beautiful children, I wrote the Dr. Feelgood album, I’ve had a wonderful life. I did not take that way out.

And what I’m saying is: for people who are depressed, there is a way out. There are many, many ways out. And I don’t want people to listen to an interview from a rock star who’s telling you the only way out is out, when I’m telling you, and I wrote it in [my book] The Heroin Diaries, you can get out of this…

One in 10 Americans are affected by depression at one point in their life, so this is another thing to think about. At one point in your life, meaning it will come and it will go…

They say all bad things must pass, all bad things will pass. So keep that in the back of your mind if you’re feeling depression, and don’t listen to people who don’t know what they’re talking about.”

To listen to the actual audio,

click here

.

In related news, Triple M’s Network head, Mike Fitzpatrick has just pulled all KISS tracks from playlists around Australia. In a statement on the Triple M web-site Fitzpatrick says “Gene Simmons’ recent comments are misguided and insensitive. Depression and Suicide are not topics he should be using to further his notoriety or sell records. His desperation to use mental health issues to find relevancy in a modern age is sickening. I can only put it down to a brain fade on his part. The Triple M Network can’t and won’t be playing or supporting this d-ckhead’s music. I put the challenge out to other stations across Australia and North America to also drop any of this nudnik’s songs until such time as he reconsiders his thoughtless and insensitive position.”

Simmons has also been labelled a hypocrite after he tweeted, “R.I.P. Robin Williams. A kind and generous man,” in the wake of the actor’s tragic death this week.

Comments

Words of wisdom from the real “DR. FEELGOOD”!
Nikki knows what he’s talking about, because he’s been there and done that, all of it! So if anybody out there is dealing with depression, don’t listen to Gene, listen to Nikki’s advice. Way to go Sixx. 😉

Richman, give it a rest buddy, getting old really fast. For the last time, I have no idea who you are talking about and don’t really care to know. Why are you so obsessed with a rapper anyway? That’s about all I ever heard of this blige person. This site supposed to be about Rock and Metal talk, not rappers or whatever! Nobody touches a Led Zeppelin song, except maybe Heart, Van Halen, and only LIVE!

Gene….you really should do the right thing and APOLOGIZE for your unethical comments. You and Paul should really dig deep and get out of this world of anger towards Ace & Peter because at the end of the day….we are all just people living for a very short period of time. Money & Stardom can only go so far…..Joe in The Cuse

Nikki’s is right all we need is for some fan of Kiss who is depressed and listens to the imbecile it would be a tragedy.
Judas priest all over again this could put the nail in the coffin for music I adore
Gene should show some restraint and think about what he says
Again Platform dragon boots inserted into mouth
Show some type of responsible roll modeling like u thin you are

Clinical depression is a medical condition, an actual disease within the brain and at times it causes people to kill themselves. It’s horrible. It’s tragic . It’s sad. Robin Williams Gene. Robin Williams. I love you Gene, sincerely, but this has pushed me over the edge as a fan. i will no longer be attending your current tour. And quite frankly, I wish you’d apologize for your remarks. You used to say, any publicity is good publicity, but not in this case. I hope somehow, someway, Paul Stanley reads this.

Gene needs to think before he speaks for sure but what I think Gene is referring to are the wannabes that think depression and grunge are like fads and in way to act and they walk around the mall in their faded plaid shirts listening to the killer of music we all loved at the time Nirvana. I don’t think deep down Gene meant for all folks suffering from mental illness should kill themselves. And I am not saying he shouldnt review how he says things because he certainly dies put his foot in his own mouth a lot.

Even though I don’t think Gene meant it that way, I say good for Nikki Sixx. I think he is a good example of someone who overcame his demons (no pun intended Gene) and has lived a productive life and put out some great music! Nevertheless, I do think Gene is being taken out of context. That doesn’t matter though because this statement by Nikki is a great message and people need to hear it from someone like him, and not Gene.

Finally someone with good advice! Thank you Nikki for telling Gene to shut up and educate himself on depression. Killing yourself is not the answer, seeking help is the answer that’s why there are therapists out there to help those who suffer from it!

Gene, an ass? Nah, these latest and impeccably ill-timed and insensitive comments indicate that he’s the smelly, dark brown, nasty core of the butt – the a-hole. He knows it, based on the title of his 2004 solo flop. He’ll keep jawing nonsense until he’s buried in his KISS coffin with his shades on.

Hey Eddie. Have you heard many reviews on the current Crue tour with Alice? Heard they kind of got off to a shaky start but, nothing since. Trying to decide if I want to see them in my home state of Georgia this weekend.

GO SEE THEM!!!!! I saw the show last week! Alice was amazing and has a full stage show; pyro, blood, bombs…and Crue had the biggest stage show I’ve seen in years! F*cking HUGE. You will have a great time, I did and I was all the way back in the lawn seats (it was an outdoor ampitheater). Oh, did I mention the music? GO, Go, Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish I could see it twice!

Crue/Cooper crushed in OKC!! Go!! & Gene, while often insufferably pomp-the-f-kus, DID NOT mean for all sufferers of clinically diagnosable depression to jump. He was venting against the whiny p-y boys of today’s rock music who act like they’ve had such a tough life they should be stars irregardless of how bad they suck on the guitar or mike.

He defended Sterling’s right to say the crap said, not what he said. he also defended Gibson’s right to say what he said after Mel’s [racist] rant. I’m sure he didn’t agree with what he said. Updated with a radio station ban. Is it really a ban for a station that hardly ever plays them? They’ll have to buy some CD’s to throw away.

I want to make this statement about my views on depression for the record and to clarify my prior remarks.

To the extent my comments reported by the media speak of depression, I was wrong and in the spur of the moment made remarks that in hindsight were made without regard for those who truly suffer the struggles of depression. I sincerely apologize to those who were offended by my comments. I recognize that depression is very serious and very sad when it happens to anyone, especially loved ones. I deeply support and am empathetic to anyone suffering from any disease, especially depression.

I have never sugarcoated my feelings regarding drug use and alcoholics. Somewhere along the line, my intention of speaking in very directly and perhaps politically incorrectly about drug use and alcoholics has been misconstrued as vile commentary on depression. Unkind statements about depression was certainly never my intention. Fully, you will know that and I do not intend to defend myself here and now, by listing the myriad charities and self-help organizations I am involved with. Rather, I simply want to be clear that my heart goes out to anyone suffering from depression and I deeply regret any offhand remarks in the heat of an interview that might have suggested otherwise.

What’s happenin’? Mike B, Richman, Doug R, and of course, Eddie and our lovely and very patient moderator (mediator?) Dana…..I have to say, I find all of this outrage towards Gene very dis-heartening.. Someone else on this site said something: that people are just waiting for Gene to say something so they can pounce on him….And I bet if anyone who committed suicide could come back, they would say, “yeah, that sure was dumb.” It is an incredible suspension of logic and common sense to assign blame to Gene for what someone else does in their life, for how they feel…WE are responsible for our moods and volition, which is what I think that Gene was putting across, which got completely turned around, and now has mushroomed to a level of absurdity.

Staten,
I don’t blame you. I read Gene’s apology and think it was sincere. It’s not easy to read some of the unforgiving posts on this site from the other posters. Yes, Gene was overly blunt and insensitive with his statements about depression, but the real problem is people are GLAD he said that so they have an excuse (in their minds) to crucify him in their social media channels. Maybe it makes them feel better about themselves to vomit there self righteous anger at Gene.
I agree with Dana that he should know better. He–perhaps more than most–is perfectly capable of articulating his views more effectively than what we’ve seen lately.
I also agree with you that people need to stop judging and that this problem has (to borrow your excellent phrase) “mushroomed to to a level of absurdity”. Thanks Staten! IMO you have excellently and persuasively made some great points!

Mike B, this has gotten so irrational, people were so quick to vacate their common sense, except Dana, but she allowed for how weak people are and called Gene irresponsible, whereas I say that someone else’s weakness is their problem and not Gene. Suicide…I will never, ever understand how anyone could even consider it, ‘all things equal.’ it is such an incomplete analysis of the situation. Life, once you distill what it really is, is this beautiful thing, no matter what happens to you, or how unforgiving circumstances can be. It should never even be considered, the thought should never occur to you. Look at animals, they wouldn’t even consider it, and they get treated like complete crap. If the purpose of Gene’s statement was put on the table, it would’ve been processed much differently. But instead, the media took a provocative sound bite, and framed it to the public for pure sensationalism. People just LOOOVEE pointing at a successful person and tearing them down.

If you read my initial comments, I said that I thought Gene might be referring to whiny, spoiled, coddled teens. However, the one thing that I couldn’t deny, and wouldn’t deny, was that his delivery was despicable. His message was vague and that allowed it to be easily misinterpreted. On that premise alone, his actions were completely reckless and foolish. A man of his age, and a father, no less, should know better.

We are that emotionally fragile? For God’s sake no one is perfect. Gene had a rough childhood, he was basing his comments, I am hypothesizing, on his own experiences. So, he becomes public enemy #1? This rush to judge Gene is more disturbing than anything he said. You said that what he said was vague, so we infer the worst? You didn’t. You list reasons he should know better, but I don’t see the relevance, he’s probably a great father, that’s called tough love.

No, of course not. But, you have to realize when you are dealing with someone that is in a fragile state with fractured emotions, they might take those words seriously, and that is the danger. Just my opinion, of course.

Again, if you scroll through my comments and see the progression, you will discover that I recently lost someone whom I cared very deeply for to suicide, only mere months ago.

I don’t agree with the delivery of his message. The fact that it was vague is what makes it so irresponsible. Had he clarified EXACTLY what he meant from the get go, I don’t think this would have been as much of an issue. When you are a public figure, you really need to be cognizant of what that means. We can agree to disagree on this one. Glad, he apologized.

A bit of clarification: “I don’t see the relevance….he’s probably a great father,” aren’t conjunctive statements…..but I don’t see how his age….is relevant. People don’t stop saying stuff like that because their circumstances change. Gene is a visceral person, that is what is great about him, people expect too much.

Dana, the apologies are unnecessary, but I actually agree with Gene,. I don’t have any sympathy for someone, ‘all things equal’ (I wouldn’t include your friend, or someone in a similar condition) who kills themselves. Forget Gene is a rich rock star, his mother survived a concentration camp, he had a very tough upbringing, frame his comments that way. Finally, where is the connection between Gene and Robin Williams? An inference where there is none to be made.

…no, I know he commented on it, what I was saying was that Robin kills himself, and people come out with “Gene would’ve pushed Robin over the edge,” as if Gene is somehow implicated in something that had nothing to do with him.

Staten,
Another problem is the headlines the media is selling–making it sound like he WANTS depressed people to kill themselves. They are missing his point completely! His is actually an anti-suicide message if people were willing to look deeper. Nevertheless, he has to be more careful from now on.

Exactly Mike B! It’s like it took this incredible wrong turn..and then people had to basically formulate a thesis to figure it out…I’ll say it again, Gene is a smart guy, and I think he gets into trouble because he figures people will get what he says…